Cistern cut-off.



' No. 807,332. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

G. S. STUART.

CISTERN GUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1905.

2 SHEETB-SHBET 1.

PATENTE'D DEC. 12, 1905 G. s; STUART.

. OISTERN GUT-OPP. APPLIOATION FILED mums, 1905.

WNITED "STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

CISTERN CUT-OFF.

no soaeea Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 3,1905. Serial No. 248,227.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. STUART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hollidaysburg, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cistern Cut-Offs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to improvements in cistern cut-offs.

In filling cisterns from roofs the principal object obviously is to first divert the flow of water until the same has become clarified, whereupon communication is changed to the pipe leading to the cistern.

The present invention in addition has forits object to carry out the above end in an automatic manner, and the advantages will more fully appear from the following description,

the features of novelty being particularly pointed out in the claims.

To more fully describe the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating same, in which like figures designate the same parts in the several views, and in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cut-off. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. the line4 4: of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in side elevation, of the valve-casing and controlling-valve, one side of the casing and valve being partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the indicating means for the valve, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of an automatic valve for the discharge of the contents of the operating-receptacle.

1 designates the main casing, which may be built up in sections secured together in any suitable way and preferably provided at each end with conical-shaped members 2, having the cylindrical extensions 3 and 8 at the upper and lower ends, respectively. In the extension 3 is operatively mounted a short section of pipe 4, adapted to fit on the rain-spout, and is made longitudinally adjustable for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower cylindrical extension 3 is adapted to fit within a pipe 5, communicating with the cistern, the casing being interposed between the cisternpipe and the rain-spout and suitably secured as, for instance, to the side of the houseby brackets 1. The casing is also provided with Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section on 10 designates adeflector within the casing opposite said auxiliary outlet 6, and the inner end of the pivoted trough 8 is adapted to nor mally rest against the front wall of the defiector 10, whereby communication is normally cut oif between the inlet-pipe and the main outlet-pipe to the cistern, the initial discharge of water being through the auxiliary outlet 6.

On the outside of the casing and rigidly secured to the pivots 9 are a pair of levers of peculiar conformation, the power-arm 11 being an upwardly and forwardly bent extension of the weight-arm, the weight-arm comprising the elongated member 12 with the hooked portion 12, the whole lever being somewhat of the shape of the numeral 5. On the arm 12 is provided a counterbalancingweight 13, slotted and adjustable along said arm, being held in its adjusted position by the jam-screw 13, while the hooked portion 12 is similarly provided with an adjustable counterbalancing-weight 14, locked by the jam-screw 1 1. The power-arms 11 of these levers, one of which is mounted on each side of the casing, is pivotally connected to the hanger-bars 15, which latter are in turn pivotally connected at their lower ends with a water-receptacle 16, operating vertically, as shown, beneath a downwardly-disposedopening 6 in the auxiliary outlet-pipe, the rear of the receptacle slidingly engaging the depending guide-frame 17, having a laterally-bent extension 17 for limiting the receptacles downward movement. This receptacle 16 is provided with an outlet 16*, filled with a suit able porous material 161, preferably soapstone.

A valve-casing is mounted within the auxiliary outlet-pipe 6. This casing is of a partially rectangular configuration, having the top edge face 18, the front edge face 19, and the lower edge face 20, the lower rear edge face 20, forming the base of the casing, extending at an angle from substantially centrally of the casing to the rear top edge, whereby the forward end of the casing will incline upwardly, as shown at Figs. 2 and 5. The rear portion of the casing is in the nature of a solid wedge-shaped deflector 21, having the extending spaced side walls 22, forming the end of the valve.

the U-shaped bore 23, the front edges of the side Walls being beveled ofi, as at 24, forming a flaring opening to the U-shaped bore. At the forward end of the casing is provided the central web 25, extending rearwardly from the front wall 19 between the top and bottom faces 18 and 20, respectively, the side faces 26 of said web converging inwardly to a knifeedge 2'4 disposed within the U-shaped bore 23 at a position contacting the circumference of a tubular valve, hereinafter referred to. The forward or base end of the converging web is of such a width as to provide lateral extensions 19 on the front wall, forming deflectors, for a purpose hereinafter referred to. By this construction it will be seen that the forward end of the casing is provided with rearwardly directed passage ways merging at their rear ends intothe U-shaped bore 23, extending in the same vertical plane, and at the forward ends comprising enlarged laterally-disposed openings.

The controlling-valve 28 comprises a tubesection headed at its upper end 29 to receive the screw-threaded spindle 30, the valve being slotted longitudinally a limited distance, as at 31. The valve-spindle 30 at its upper end passes through the outlet-pipe 6 and is provided with a milled head 32 for adjusting the valve.

33 is a collar on the valve-stem, provided with an index-finger 34, adapted to cooperate with a scale 35 on the block or plate 36 for indicating the position ofthe valve-opening with respect to the knife-edge 27, it being understood that it may be desirable to regulate the extent of this opening to time the operation of the apparatus.

In addition to the porous leak-hole in the operating water-receptacle 16 it may be desirable to provide a valve to more quickly discharge the contents. Any suitable valve may be providedsuch, for instance, as shown in Fig. 7-similar in construction to the valve 28, 28 designating the tubular body portion, 31 the longitudinal slot, and 29 the headed portion, which of course is not apertured. This valve, as shown, operates in a depending short tube-section 16, the length of the slot 31 being so regulated that'when the valve is raised to the open position the lower edge of the opening or slot is within the tube 16 and the discharge is through The particular construction illustrated in Fig. 7 however, is primarily designed for use with the apparatus for continuous demonstrating purposes, the valve being so mounted as to contact with a suitable projection.for instance, the transverse extension 17 of the hanger 17.

In operation the parts being in their normal positions, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the adjustable pipe tconnected with the rain-spout, upon a rainfall the initial flow is diverted to the auxiliary outlet 6 into the filled by this gradual splashback and drip, the

weight of water therein will overcome the counterbalancing-weights 13 and 1 1 on the levers and tilt the trough to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the flow of clear water will be directed to the main,

outlet leading to the cistern, the parts now having assumed the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Owing to the peculiar shape of the levers, the counterbalancing-weights being properly adjusted thereon, the parts will remain in this latter position until practically all of the water has leaked out from the receptacle, and the porous material providing for slow leakage the operating mechanism will not be shifted until after the rainfall is over.

It will be obvious from the construction of the valve illustrated in Fig. 7 and referred to as being specially designed for continuous demonstrating purposes that when the receptacle 16 is lowered the lower end of the tube 28 will contact with the transverse extension 17 of the depending frame 17, lifting the valve within the receptacle, sothat the top of the longitudinal opening 31 will rise above the tubular member 16 and an outlet will be provided for the contents of the receptacle, after the discharge of which the parts will assume their normal position and continue the cycle of operation indefinitely.

While I have described the above as illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of same, and I do not limit myself to the exact details as disclosed.

What I claim is- 1. In a cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with amain and an auxiliary outlet-pipe, controlling means for the outflow of water and a water-receptacle for operating same, of a valve-casing, within said auxiliary outlet-pipe, above said water-receptacle provided with rearwardly-directed passages, and a valve operating within said casing between said passages and water-receptacle.

2. In a cistern cut-off, the combination with acasing provided with a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle Connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly therein and having a valve-bore and a longitudinal web forming rearwardly-directed passageways communicating with said valve-bore, and a hollow valve mounted in said bore and communicating between said passageways and receptacle.

3. In a cistern cut-01f, the combination with a casing provided with a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly therein and having a valve-bore, a rearwardly-disposedlongitudinal web terminating at said valve-bore'formin'g rearwardly-directed passage-ways communicating with said bore, and a hollow valve mounted in said bore and communicating between said passage-ways and receptacle.

4:.- In a cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly and upwardly therein and having a valve-bore, a rearwardly-disposed longitudinal web terminating at said valve-bore forming rearwardlydirected passage-ways communicating with said bore, transversely-disposed deflectingshoulders formed at the forward end of said web, and a hollow valve mounted in said bore and communicating between said passageways and receptacle.

5. Ina cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly therein and having a valve-bore, a longitudinal web having rearwardly-converging faces terminating at said bore and forming rearwardlydirected passage-ways communicating with said valve-bore, and a hollow slotted tubular valve mounted in said bore and communicating between said passage-ways and "receptacle.

6. In a cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with a main and auxiliary outletpipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly therein and havinga valve-bore, a longitudinal web having rearwardly-converging faces terminating in a knife-edge at said bore and forming rearwardly-directed passage-ways communicating with said valve-bore and a hol' low slotted tubular valve mounted on said bore and communicating between said passage-ways and receptacle, the said knife-edge adapted to contact the tubular valve.

7. In a cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly and upwardly therein and having a valve-bore, a longitudinal web having rearward ly-converging faces terminating in a knife-edge at said bore and forming rearwardly-directed passage-ways communicating with said valvebore, transversely-disposed deflecting-shoulders formed at the forward end of-said web, and a hollow slotted tubular valve mounted in said bore and communicating between said passage-ways and receptacle, the said knifeedge adapted to contact the tubular valve.

8. In a cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, of controlling means for the outflow of water, means for operating said controlling means comprising a water-receptacle connected therewith, a valve-casing within said auxiliary pipe extending forwardly therein comprising a solid rear portion terminating forwardly in short spaced walls having beveled forward edges, forming a substantially U-shaped valve-bore provided with a flaring opening, a longitudinal web having rearwardlyconverging faces terminating in a knife-edge within said U-shaped bore and 00- operating to form rearwardly-directed passage-ways, having enlarged transversely-disposed openings at their forward ends. and a hollow slotted tubular valve mounted in said bore and communicating between said passage-ways and receptacle, the said knife-edge adapted to contact the tubular valve.

' 9. In a cistern cut-off, the combination with a casing provided with an inlet and a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, the auxiliary pipe having a leak-opening therein, a pivoted trough operating between said outlets, levers carried by the axis of said trough, having a U-shaped weight-arm with counterbalancing-weights thereon disposed in different horizontal planes and means for adjusting the position of same, relatively to each other, longitudinally of said U-shaped weight-arm, and a water-receptacle located beneath said leak-opening and pivotally suspended from the power-arms of said levers.

10. In a cistern cut-0E, the combination with a casing providedwith an inlet and a main and auxiliary outlet-pipe, the auxiliary pipe having a leak-opening therein, a pivoted trough operating between said outlets, levers carried by the axis of said trough, havinga U-shaped weight-arm with adjustable eounterbalancingweights thereon disposed in different horizontal planes and means for adjusting the position of same, relatively to each other, longitudinally of saidU-shaped Weight-arm, means for positively securing said weights in .position when so adjusted, and a water receptacle located'beneath said leak-opening and pivotally suspended from the power-arms of said levers.

11. In a cistern cut-ofhthe combination with a casing comprising a body portion provided with an inlet and a main and auxiliary outlet, of controlling means for the outflow of water soassz" 

